walked aft again and studied the brig for some time. 'Mr Starkie will return to his ship and be prepared to assist whichever officers I appoint to take charge, and to sail eventually with my despatches.' He swung round, his eyes hard in the light. 'Had I thought that you had any part in losing Sandpiper in the first place, by negligence or lack of courage, I can assure you that you would not be here now, and your chances of advancement would have been smashed.' He smiled, the effort making him older rather than the opposite. 'You did very well, Mr Starkie. I only wish I could keep you in my cornmand.
But I think that when you reach higher authority your efforts will be better rewarded.' He nodded. 'Carry on, gentlemen.' They left the cabin in a daze, the captain already in conference with Verling and the surgeon. Bolitho shook Starkie's rough hand and exclaimed, Tm glad for you! But for your skill, and accepting an idea which to most people would have seemed quite mad, we would not be here at all! ' Starkie studied him gravely, as if searching for something he could not understand. 'But for you, I'd still be in irons and awaiting death.' He turned as Tregorren strode to the companion ladder on his way down to the wardroom. 'I wanted to speak out.' Starkie's eyes were bitter. 'But as you said nothing, I thought it best to hold my peace. He is without honour! ' Eden stammered, 'It's n-not r-right, D-Dick! H-he'll get the c-credit! ' He was almost weeping. 'He j-just stood th-there and t-took it all! ' Dancer smiled. 'I think the captain knows more than he's prepared to admit. I watched him. He is balancing the value of the victory against damaging it with envy and shame.' He grinned at Eden. 'And midshipmen who go round trying to poison their betters! 'Bolitho nodded. 'I agree. Now let us go and eat. Anything, even a ship's rat, will do for me.' They turned towards the companion ladder and froze. A figure in an ill-fitting uniform, that of a lieutenant, blocked their way. He said, 'Nothing to do, eh? Midshipmen are not what they were in my day! ' They crowded round him, and Bolitho said, 'John Grenfell! We thought you dead! ' Grenfell gripped his hand, his face very grim. 'When City of Athens was destroyed, some of us managed to find safety on drifting spars. We hauled them together like a little raft, not knowing what was happening.' He dropped his gaze. 'Most of our people were killed. The lucky ones in the cannon fire, the rest when the sharks tore amongst us. The third lieutenant, oh, so many old faces, were slashed to fragments before our eyes.' He shrugged, as if to free himself of the memory. 'But we drifted ashore, and as we made our way along the coast, there, as large as life, was the ship standing in to the beach, and Dewar's bullocks with a dhow full of screaming slaves, an Arab crew and two Portuguese merchants who were so terrified that I think they believed their end had come.' He plucked at his borrowed coat. 'So I have been made acting sixth lieutenant. It will do no harm when my examination is called.' He looked into the distance. 'But I got the chance at a price I would dearly repay if it were possible.' Bolitho said quietly, 'ButjyoM are safe.' Starkie yawned. 'I could sleep for a year.' He grinned at Grenfell. 'Sir.' Grenfell walked with them to the ladder. 'I suggest you all get some rest. I have a feeling it will be all the hotter tomorrow, in more ways than one! ' Mr Turnbull's knowledge of weather did not desert him. By the time the first dog watch had run its course both vessels were under way again, their sails filling to the breeze. An hour later the wind had steadied to a fresh northerly, and when the hands were assembled aft the air was like a tonic after the sweaty furnace between decks. The lieutenants and marine officers were by the poop ladder, watching the captain, who was conferring with Verling and the sailing master. Petty officers moved amongst the assembled seamen, checking their muster lists and calling out names, while from the lower gundeck Bolitho could hear the screech of a grindstone as the gunner's mates attended to the sharpening of cutlasses and boarding axes. The very sound made him shiver, as it always had. A lookout bawled, 'Deck there! Vessel at anchor off the larboard bow! ' Dancer had been peering across at Sandpiper's sails. They were creamy in the fading light, and there was nothing visible of the shot holes and patches. Dallas, the second lieutenant, had taken charge of her for the attack. A man Bolitho knew nothing of, and had barely heard utter more than a few necessary orders since he had joined the ship. But the captain's choice showed that he trusted Dallas for the task. It also suggested he was not entirely satisfied with Tregorren's part in the cutting-out. When Bolitho had seen Starkie over the side to be taken back to the brig, the master's mate had stared aft towards the captain's slowly pacing figure. He had grinned. 'It's how you gets to be a post-captain, young feller, knowing them things! ' 'All midshipmen lay aft to the quarterdeck! ' They hurried along the gangway and found Verling waiting by the lee nettings, one foot tapping with impatience. 'Three of you will be required for the attack.' He scowled as Marrack made to speak. 'Not you. You will be needed for the signal party.' His cold eyes rested on Bolitho. 'As you have just returned to your proper duties with us, I cannot order you to take part either. Mr Pearce, ' he turned to the sulky looking midshipman from the lower gundeck, 'and…' Bolitho glanced at Dancer who gave the briefest nod. He called, 'Mr Dancer and I would like to volunteer, sir. We sailed very close to the island. It might be of some use.' Verling smiled wryly. 'Now that Mr Grenfell has placed his foot on the bottom rung of promotion, you three, apart from Mr Marrack, are the oldest. So I suppose I'd better allow you to go.' Eden stepped smartly from the rank of midshipmen.
'S-sir! I'd 1-like to v-volunteer, too! Veiling glared down at him. 'Don't you stutter at me, you urchin! Get back in line and hold your noise! ' Eden retreated, beaten before he had started. Verling nodded, apparently satisfied. 'Boats will be lowered as soon as we heave-to. All the marines and sixty seamen will transfer to that floating hell yonder.' Dancer whispered, 'The captain is sending everyone he can spare.' Verling rasped, 'After the raid, should you be spared, Mr Dancer, you will be awarded five days extra duty. Be silent! ' The captain walked aft towards the poop, as if on a stroll ashore. He paused and asked evenly, 'All well, Mr Verling?' 'Aye, sir.' The captain glanced at the three midshipmen who stood where they had been called. 'Be vigilant.' He looked at his first lieutenant. 'Mr Verling will command the attack, so he will expect your best support, as will I.' He leaned forward, seeking out Eden 's small shape. 'You, er, Mr er, will probably be useful assisting the surgeon in your new and er, surprising capacity.' Neither he nor Verling gave even the hint of a smile. It was almost dark by the time the transfer of men and weapons had been completed. Even before they reached the large dhow Bolitho could smell the stench of slavery. Once on board it was almost overpowering as the seamen and t marines clambered below, stooping beneath the 5 crude deck beams and slithering on filth and t broken manacles. Major Dewar's corporals were spaced at intervals along the hull to lead or push the new arrivals into! the proper places where they would remain until the: actual moment of attack. It was as well Eden had been j left behind, Bolitho thought. This stench, and the cramped journey, would have made him as sick as; a dog. Several swivel guns were swayed up from the longboats and mounted on the bulwarks and aft by the high poop. There was a smell of rum in the air too, and Bolitho guessed that the captain had thought it prudent to give the attackers something to sustain them. Bolitho and the other two midshipmen made their way aft to the poop to report that all the extra seamen and marines were crammed below like pork in a barrel. In the half-darkness the marines' cross-belts stood out very white, their coats merging with the background.
Hoggett, the Gorgon's leather-lunged boatswain, was in charge of the dhow's sails and steering, and Bolitho heard one seaman mutter unkindly, * 'E'd be right at 'ome on a blessed slaver, 'e would! ' Verling snapped, 'Break out the anchor and get this vessel under way, Mr Hoggett! Perhaps the wind will take the stench out of her! He turned as another shadowy figure climbed to the poop. 'All ready, Mr Tregorren?' Dancer said, 'So he's coming too, damn him! ' 'Anchor's aweigh, sir! ' Bolitho watched the two seamen using the great sweep oar which stood in place of wheel or tiller. The strange lateen sails creaked up the masts, the sailors slipping and cursing with unfamiliar, and to them, crude rigging. Verling had brought a small boat's compass, and handed it to the boatswain. 'We will take our time. Stand well offshore. I'd rather not finish the attack like that frigate ended her life, eh, Mr Tregorren? It must have been quite a moment.' Tregorren sounded as if his breathing was hurting him. He replied thickly, 'It was, sir.' Verling dropped the matter. 'Mr Pearce, show the lantern to Gorgon.' Bolitho saw the light blink briefly as Pearce lifted the shutter. Captain Conway would know they had started. In the small glow from the compass Bolitho saw Verling's beaky profile, and was suddenly glad he was in command. He wondered what Tregorren would say to him when next they spoke. If he would continue his deception, or admit that he was not responsible for Pegaso's destruction. Verling's voice bit into his thoughts. 'If you have nothing to do, I suggest you sleep until you are called. Otherwise I will discover a task t of some enormity for you, even in this vessel! ' 5 Hidden by the deepening darkness, Bolitho grinned t broadly. 'Aye, aye, sir. Thank you, sir.' He settled down against an ancient bronze cannon ', and rested his chin on his knees. Dancer joined him, and together they stared up at the tiny, pale stars, [against which the dhow's great sails showed like wings.; 'Here we go again, Martyn.' Dancer sighed. 'But we kept together. That's the main thing.'
10. A Name to Remember
